Tag: review

With a sudden burst of popularity of Airbnb in South Africa, one now has even more options at their fingertips of options when it comes to a getaway. If you are at all like me, you research an area thoroughly before you decide on your pick of accommodation. Price, what you’re getting for that price, extras, budget vs luxury..etc..Leading up to choosing, my poor computer suffers terribly as I usually have about 30 tabs open- fluctuating between Airbnb, Tripadvisor, Safari Now…just to name a few.

My husband and I were needing a long overdue weekend away. We work conflicting hours and he works weekends too, so we decided to take the plunge and book a long weekend away. As your typical “beachy-couple” we generally always choose a seaside location. But this time, my husband said he’d love to see the Cango Caves. Something different. And the appeal of disconnecting from the city buzz was too big.

I could get used to this view every morning.

Le Petit Karoo is owned by Pascal from France, and he has really made an amazing establishment. It’s nestled between the town of Oudtshoorn and the Cango Caves, so it feels secluded and is very quiet. When we saw our tent I was blown away by the view – one can see for kilometers and it is perfectly still with a faint sound of birds. There was no transition period into holiday mode. I took one look at our delightful safari tent, outdoor bath and gorgeous view and I was already clocked out of work, emails and the to-do’s. I immediately ran a cool bath (pictured above) and took out my latest copy of Elle. It was immediately relaxing and it was hard to remember I had only left for vacation that morning!

For dinner we Google’d some of the most loved restaurants in Oudtshoorn and decided on Nostalgie. They specialise in traditional South African dishes and they didn’t disappoint. Generous portions, hearty meals and candlelight. It’s hard not to feel like you have been transported to a different time when in Oudtshoorn. It’s so rich in heritage.

The bed – amazing linen too!

The staff were incredible at Le Petit Karoo – they were friendly, attentive and very accommodating. Also importantly, they keep their space- enough to know that if you need them, they are there, yet not overcrowding or burdensome.

You can go into town for a brekkie, but I’d also highly recommend opting for their breakfast on the deck – it’s view is hard to rival and they make some delicious coffee accompanying a full English breakfast. Pascal is a very friendly host, making the rounds at breakfast to see if there is anything he can do to make your stay more comfortable. Between the breakfast and the glass of wine whilst reading my book enjoying the sunset, it’s hard for me to pick my favorite moment there.

Prices are seasonal, but you’re looking in the range of R650 to R780 per couple per night (Very reasonable!) and you can book via Airbnb too. Le Petit Karoo has a very simple website but if you’d like to read up more go here.

Sadly all good things come to an end and all bags eventually have to be packed. We left Le Petit Karoo with great memories and have since recommend it to friends and family. It’s a gem that side of South Africa, especially if you’re doing a stopover at the iconic Cango Caves (Also a must for South Africans and tourists alike). This beach girl is glad she opted for something a little different.